But Toms River South’s Justin Theobold was thinking he had already won, and he did, 7-6.

“It was Miller’s tournament to lose. No one expected me to win, and that’s why I shot so quickly,” Theobold (40-1) said. “And as soon as he hit the mat and struggled to get up, I knew I had him.”

The upset of the top-seeded Miller put Theobold in the final against St. Peter’s Prep’s Alexander Richardson (34-3), who won, 9-6, over Nick Gravina (37-2) of Northern Highlands.

Miller (38-2) escaped Theobold’s grasp at 1:07 but was hit with a single leg that he converted near the end of the period for a 4-1 deficit. He escaped and then used a headlock to tie the match in the second period, but Theobold escaped to take a 5-4 lead into the third period.

The two wrestlers know each other well, as they met as competitors in the Shore Thing wrestling club two years ago and have become best friends. Theobold says he has nothing but respect for Miller and that he is the toughest wrestler he’s ever faced.

“I feel I came to Atlantic City more mentally prepared than anyone in the tournament,” said Theobold, who placed seventh last year. “It’s my tournament to win.”

St. Peter’s Prep coach Anthony Verdi left abruptly before the match because his wife went into labor. He learned of his player’s victory while heading home on the Garden State Parkway.

“After that win, I’m his baby too,” Richardson joked. “And hopefully after the finals, we’re all going to Disneyland.”